Ignition timer



Sept. 27, 1938. J. L. ARTHUR ET AL .IGNITION TIMER Filed Nov. 9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 I04 556m Q8 70 64 64 7 7 74 O 48 15 ,5

\ l2 4 58 INVENTORS JAMES L ARTHUR & BQfl/LLAM THOMPSON I0 I p 4 2 v H0 u MATTORNEi Sept. 27, 1938. J. 1.. ARTHUR ET m. 2,131,019

IGNITION TIMER 2 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1935 INVENTOR JAMES L ARTHUR &

WILUAM THOMPSON BY j ATTORNEZZ Patented Sept. 27, 1938 IGNITION James L. Arthur and son, Ind., aaaignors William Thomp n, Anderto General Motors Corporation, Detroit. Mich, a corporation oi Del-. aware Applloaflfl November 9, 1935. Serial No. 48,998

Claim 'ihis invention relates to ignition timer distributors used in conjunction with automotive engines, and is particularly directed to the type oi suction controlled timers.

One object oi this invention is to provide a ball bearing support ior the breaker plate oi an ignition distributor. in which one oi the ball races is provided by an integral part oi the breaker plate. and the balls are spring urged into 10 position by a yieldable section oi the breaker plate.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a breaker plate and a ball bearing race member oi integral construction and having a yieldable section providing spring loading means for the balls when the assembly is mounted in a. distributor.

A iurther object oi the invention is to provide an ignition distributor in which the breaker plate is directly supported irom the wall oi the cup by ball bearings whose races are provided by the cup and an integral part oi the breaker plate.

A iurther object of the invention is to improve suction controlled timers by providing a stop post on a bracket mounting the suction unit upon 55 the cup. which stop limits the movement oi a link making a direct connection between the suction unit and breaker plate.

A iurther object oi the invention is to provide a ball bearing support ior a breaker plate in an ignition distributor, wherein the ball bearings are disposed in a plane passing through the contact points and rubbing block engagement with the cam, whereby the moment oi iorce tending to tilt the breaker plate is substantially eliminated. Further objects and advantages oi the present invention will be apparent irom the following description, reierence being bad to the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment oi one iorm oi the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: I'ig.liaaverticalsectionalviewoiatinier distributor incorporating the improvements, being a view substantially as indicated by the line and arrows l-i oi Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view oi the interior oi the timer mechanism with parts broken away to show the suction unit in section, the view being substantially that illustrated by the line and arrows 2-! oi Hg. 1, or with the distributor cap and rotor removed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view oi the improved breaker plate showing parts oi the ball bearing 55 assembly insection.

Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional and detail views respectively of a fragment oi the ball retainer.

Hg. 6 is a iragmentary view in section illustrating certain modifications oi the breaker plate and a means by which the ball bearing support is ected.

Fig. 7 is aviewpartly in elevation and partly in section substantially as indicated by the line and arrows 1-1 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation with parts shown in section substantially as indicated by the line and arrows s-s oi Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 2, but showing the breaker plate and movable elements oi the suction unit in an adjusted position.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view oi the suction unit and breaker plate connecting link.

Fig. 11 is a iragmentary view in cross section substantially as indicated by the line and arrows ii-li of Fig. 2, and illustrating the means for anchoring the ball spacer.

In ignition distributors oi the prior art where a shiitable breaker plate is actuated by a suction unit, the devices invariably oiier considerable resistance to movement and therefore render the suction control means'but partly eiiicient. Some constructions have been proposed ior mounting the breaker plate by means oi ball bearings, but in main, these prior art devices in order to reduce the irictional resistance are either so iiexlble or so loosely assembled, that the support of the circuit breaker by means oi the breaker plate is rather unstable, and the high irequency operation oi the circuit breaker in opening the contacts through the successive engagement oi the cam and rubbing block, causes the breaker plate to chatter or rattle upon its ball bearing support, and in some instances to wobble or oscillate laterally which latter gives rise to considerable variation in contact opening and wear oi the moving parts.

The invention disclosed herein overcomes these objections, and provides a construction characterised by minimum irictional resistance. though assembled with suillcient rigidity to eliminate the looseness or rattling and wear oi the parts. These improvements are accomplished by preparing the inner suriace oi the distributor cup to iorm an outer race way, and by iashioning the breaker plate in the iorm oi a shallow cup whose side walls are spun or otherwise iormed into an inner race way, so that a series oi ball bearings retained in spaced relation by a ball retainer may be disposed in the ball races. The balls may be assembly within the housing will then assume the position illustrated in Fig. 2 where it will be noted that the ball bearings have been angularly displaced to such an extent that they will be out of registry with the vertical ways 54 and thereby 5 prevented from being laterally displaced. A stop pin 72 passing t'ircugh both. the housing wall l0 and the band $4 will prevent the balls from being displaced.

The breaker plate 58 has special provisions for 1' more of the balls when as" s ringing the balls, or for maintaining them in cup. This yieldah'ie section engagement with each of the race members. ans for springing the To s, in In the present instance three 01' the ball bearings to their respective seats in the races. 55 are used as a support for the breaker plate A detailed explanation of the and springing oi the balls is accomplished is to be ad in iollowing r rte of the speciby punching u i 3 l 74 n h bottom ation in .r i r es ngnfe lin breaker plate one end of which is drical form for a timer-distributor fashioned to opened through the flange 60 of the breaker plate provide a item wall ill, with oppositely extendmeans of a curl or slit 76, thus providin 29 ing bosse ii and i8 forming a Journal hearing a yieidable section 78 of the breaker plate flange for a or shaft it. The sh t it behind cne the balls 56 set near ehsicn it u the ree end of the yieldable section and having e ":centbali 56. Due to l I I ace in the flange of 'lioient inherent re he plate, and especially if i is made slili'l oversize as in the instance of piston rings, to maintain all of the halls m firm. engagement with their race ways, -d provide adequate and rigid support for ,e breaker plate a Zion press?" ccmpressio v is ES i. y Lent the boss i i from the Low .12 wall l2 01' the cup {I lnhriean c ly-31 28, that has corrmur the he:

- n 56 and being under :es the opposite side iy and incidentally engagement with 35 :e way 56 am n, respective points. th modification shown in Fig. -6, the housprovide a ledge ii, adapti3 having their adjacent f-perate in forming an outer ed from the ledge H and innd the rim 52 cf the cup lder'ed grac it ts "and 38 adapted to i terminal members 40 and I2 rea distributor cap 44 clot" 3 end oi the housing l0.

of cylindrical roove til termediate th cuter race way for there is an an i/ operate to support a to receive the and spring member ii formed W e. or te c8. breaker plate is in the to engage and urge l a ring i3 toward the ledge 5 form of a shallow cup having a flange 80, which H, and thus add to the springing of the ball in iiange is formed into a groove section substantheir races.

*5 as sated 62, that provides an inner Here too, there is illustrated some modificaiaee the ball bearings 58. The breaker e breaker plate. It is of inverted cup is i that renal} dimension that it will irmly engag plurality of the balls '56 when e formed race way 63 adapted to 9 pl" assembled, within the housing wall. it 5 when seated in the race way the plate within the housing is re ainer ring 84 acts in the same balls in the race n the form first described. Since late ii the breaker plate here is downward, 55 at the edge 5 of ti cs \z' zoinciaent lit, a hall aceztu hove the bottom of the plate so as ith the cam 22. If desired the plate may also be provided with the cticn like that afore described, but crowding the ring i3 against the has been i'ound sufficient to spring load the secured in the breaker plate 58 a pivot 23 izich there oscillates the contact 05 I a. adjustably held against the plate 58 clamp screw Bl, there being provided a slot 6 and eccentric device 88 for moving the bracket i t the 'nount 01' contact opening. The

, ace up a 88 and Til splieen zen illustrated in With the spaced con act 92, as well as an apertured 11g the pivot post 80, and dis n." oi the bracket 82 there is at supporting a contact arm n a. movable contact 600 for sepae w position joins the terminal screw I00 substantially in are secured within the base rable engagement with the flxed contact 02. A rubbing block I02 is also carried by the contact arm 00 and is adapted'tobeactuatedbythecam 22 upon rotation thereoi.,a conducting s ring I00 being anchored to the arm 00 and secured to the lug l0, ior urging the arm toward the cam and ior making electrical connection with a terminal screw I00 secured to the lug 00, and to which a lead I00 communicates with a condenser II0 grounded to the breaker plate 00 by means 0! a clip H2 and screw IIO. A second lead IIO with a terminal post I I0 insulatinsly supported in the side wall oi the cup I0.

Reierrins tol is.7.itwillbenotedthat the aligned axes oi the contacts 02 and I00 and now particularly, the central point oi engagement between the cam 22 and the rubbing block I02 are substantially coincident with a plane passing through the axes oi the ball bearings. By the term "central point oi engagement" is meant a point midway along the line oi contact between the rubbing block I82 and the cam 22. In other words, it one were to consider the iorce applied by the cam 22 to the rubbing block as being concentrated at one point. that point would be the "central point oi engagement" between the cam and rubbing block. It is desirable to so locate the circuit breaker and cam with respect to the ball bearings that this central point oi engagement" between the cam and rubbing block is the plane oi the ball bearings. because the iorce exerted by the cam upon the rubbing block then has substantially a zero moment oi iorce with respect to the plane oi the ball bearings. In other words, the cam iorces upon the rubbing block such that. ii these iorces were concentrated at one point. the resultant ierce would be applied in the plane oi the ball bearings. Hence the actuation oi the circuit breaker mechanism will not then tend to tilt or wobble the breaker plate and thus interiere with rotation by the suction operated plate adlusting means. Moreover the present construction eliminates such wobbling oi the plate as would upset thecorrect timing oi the ignition.

The speed responsive mechanism includu a weight plate I20 press fltted upon a portion oi the shait I0 as at I22, and provides a pair of diametrically disposed pivot posts I20 whose ends I20 and oscillatably support a pair oi flyweights I20, having arms engaging a cam bar I28 secured on the lower end oi the cam 22, as indicated at I20. Mounted in opposite ends oi the cam bar I20 there are spring posts I82, to the ends of which are secured springs I80 tending to keep the flyweights I20 in the inposition. A holddown plate I80 is secured to the weight base I20 and spaced above the ilyweights and cam bar, but tending to keep them in preperly assembled relation. The holddown plate I80 has an overhanging flange I00, having deiorm d portions ior stops limiting the outward throw oi the flyweights. Inasmuch as this speed responsive mechanism is the subject matter oianother application, further description is not deemed necessary at this time. It is to be considered that rotation oi the shait I0 will act through 22 which eflects breaker mechanism. As the speed oi rotation oi the shait It increases the flyweights responding to the increased speed move out by centrifugal iorce and in' so doing tend to rotate the cam 22 upon the extension 20, all in accordance with the the operation engine speed, thereby altering the time oi interrupter operation relative to shait rotation.

Means are provided ior actuating the breaker plate 00, or 00, and ior deflning the limits of that actuation, whereby iurther variation or alteration in the time oi circuit breaker operation may be accomplished. The particular means provided here embrace a fluid displacement or suction unit I00 comprising a pair oi cups whose flanged rims are spun over one another and compressed about the periphery oi a flexible diaphragm I00, the cup I00 being rigidly secured to a flat portion I00 oi a press metal bracket I00 that is mounted upon the outer periphery oi the housing cup I0 by means oi the screws I02. The bottom oi the cup I00 and the flat portion Ill oi the bracket are apertured at I00 substantially as illustrated in Fig. 8, such as to provide the parallel branches oi the opening I00 separated by a tongue I00, and the cylindrical wall oi the housing I0 is cut away at I00 so asto make provision ior passage and movement oi a link I82 joining the diaphragm I00 with the breaker plate 00.

The link I02 has an aperture I80 ior receiving a pn I80 iorming a pivot ior the .link and secured to the breaker plate by means oi rivetin as at I88. The other end oi the link is provided with an opening I00 that is disposed to loosely flt over the tongue I00 oi the bracket I00, while the body of the link I02 extends through the slot or aperture I80 and is connected to the breaker plate 08. Fixed to the bifurcated end oi the link I82 such as to close oi! the aperture I90 there is a washer or plate I02 whose aperture I90 makes provision for receving a stud I90 extending irom a spring receiving cup I08 and extending through the diaphragm I and washer I92 where it is riveted over, thus providing a driving connection between the diaphragm I56 and breaker plate '00. Received within the spring cup I98 is a spring 200 engaging the bottom oi a nipple 202 by which fluid connection oi the chamber is made with the induction pipe of the engine.

As thus constructed, a unit is provided adaptable to shiit the breaker plate in response to variations in engine suction conditions, in that maniiestation within the chamber I00 sufllcient to compress the spring 200 will rotate the breaker plate 08 within the housing II upon the ball bearing irom that position illustrated in Fig. 2 where the end oi the stud I06 is against the stop tongue I00, to that position illustrated in Fig. 9 v here the breaker plate 08 has been rotated in a clockwise direction and the opposite end 0! the aperture I00 is engaged by the tongue I08. The amount of movement of the breaker plate can be regulated by either lengthening or shortening the aperture I00 to meet the desired conditions, but in Fig. 9, the relative periected adjustment of the plate is illustrated by the dotted line showing oi. the contact supporting bracket 82, ior the original position, while the iull line position is illustrative oi the shifted breaker position. The shifting movement oi the breaker plate is accomplished with a. minimum amount of iriction due to the ball bearing support on the large diameter ball races, provided by the housing wall and flange oi the breaker plate. The point of engagement between the separable contacts 02 and I00 and the central point oi engagement between the cam 22 and rubbing block I02 being substantially coincident with a plane passing through the axes oi the ball bearings, actuation of the circuit breaker mechanism will not then tend to tilt or wobble the breaker plate, since the force exerted by the cam in the inner ball race comprises a groove spun into upon the rubbing block has a substantially neglithe cylindrical wall or the breaker pla e.

gible moment of force with respect to the plane Ili ball bearing distributor time! havinl I of circuit breaker support. cylindrical housing wall internally grooved to While the embodiment 01' the present invention p d a a a m unt d n a shaft f r adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims i al wa pr d s an i n r a e war. a seri s 10 What is claimed is as follows: supporting the breaker pl e fr m the housin 1 1- In a timer havinga. housing including a. botwall, a circuit breaker mounted on the breaker tom wall and a cup like cylindrical wall, a cam plate and operated by said cam. the cen ral po 01' a breaker plate having an upstanding flange, passing through the center 0! said ball bearings, 1

plate from the cylindrical wall of the cup, a cirthe housing and cam, and means comprising a cult breaker mounted upon the breaker plate and P t O the cup-like bre pla e for p t having a rubbing block engaged by said cam and urging all of the ball bearings into seating engageso located with respect to the bearings that the ment with both race ways. 26 central point of engagement between the cam and 10. The combination set forth in claim 9,

breaker plate. opens through the periphery of the plate to prohe combination set forth in claim 1 further vide a yieldable section of the breaker plate, said characterized by having the breaker plate notched ball bearings being disposed within the race ways engaging at least one of the balls oi the ball bear- 11. In an ignition timer having a housing pro- 30 ing for the purpose specified. viding a cylindrical wall, the combination of a 80 3. In a timer having a housing including a botbreaker plate having an integral cylindrical tom wall and a cup like cylindrical wall, a cam flange, said flange forming a complete inner race by the cam, the combination comprising a flanged of an outer ball race, a series 01' ball bearings dis- 35 ably supporting the breaker plate from the ho breaker plate may be accomplished relative to the 40 breaker plate flange and the cylindrical wall for of th b e plate, u s n y equally distributing the ball bear- 12. In a suction controlled timer including a ings. housing having a bottom wall and a cup like cylin- 4. The combination set forth in claim 3, wheredrjcal wall, the combination f a cam and dflv- 6 or the balls in spaced relation. from the housing wall, and means including an 6. The combination Set forthin Claim Whereintegral part fabricated from the breaker plate in the plane of the ball bearings is substantially itself providing spring loading means for the 55 b lls.

13. In an igni operation of the circuit breaker will not tilt or ducjng bearing for supporting a breaker plate wobble the r ker p and including an outer race and an inner race 50 7. n a ba l b a distributor time! having with interposed balls, the combination of onernce for supporting the breaker plate from the houscentral point of engagement of the cam and rub- 7 central point of engagement between the cam and ducing bearing for supporting a breaker plate 8 7 8. The combination set forth in claim 7, where block and carried by the breaker plate and a 76 cam for enlasinz the rubbin: block slid breaker plate being so located member that the plane 0! the tially coincident with gazement o! the cam and rubbinl block. and means incorporatinl a part 0! the breaker plate ioraprlnsloadinaaballinthencei.

ahouainapro- 16. In an ignition timer havlna 

